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Introducing the 2024 Daily Southtown Boys Volleyball All-Area Team


State champion Marist, state qualifier Lincoln-Way West and juggernaut Lockport lead the first and second teams.

First Team

Jeremiah Aro, Sandburg, junior, right-side hitter: Ended up with 300 kills and 50 blocks for Eagles. All-state, all-conference.

Josh Bluhm, Lockport, senior, right-side hitter: Had 338 kills and 155 digs to go with 52 blocks and 21 aces. All-state, all-conference. Committed to William Penn.

Evan Dziadkowiec, Lockport, senior, setter: Tallied 876 assists to boost career total to 2,765. Added 207 digs, 67 kills, 39 blocks and 34 aces. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Loras.

Connor Jaral, Lincoln-Way West, senior, outside hitter: Had 342 kills, 139 digs and 46 blocks. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Loras.

Noah Konopack, Lincoln-Way West, senior, setter: Notched 872 assists, 237 digs and 26 aces. All-state, all-conference.

Trey Marek, Lincoln-Way East, senior, outside hitter: Had 361 kills while hitting over .300 and providing a 2.40 passing percentage. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Illinois Wesleyan.

Justin McGary, Marian Catholic, senior, setter: Came up with 811 assists, 166 digs, 147 kills, 60 blocks and 42 aces. All-state and all-conference. Committed to Missouri Baptist.

John Mikrut, Brother Rice, junior, right-side hitter: Had 313 kills, 130 digs, 42 aces and 31 blocks. All-state, all-conference.

Aidan Peloquin, St. Rita, senior, outside hitter: Packed powerful swing and was strong on defense for Mustangs. All-state and all-conference. Made AVCA All-American watch list.

Christian Teresi, Marist, junior, setter/right-side hitter: Led RedHawks with 327 kills, 575 assists, 174 digs, 68 blocks and 65 aces. All-state. East Suburban Catholic Conference’s player of the year. Committed to Ohio State.

Nathen Toth, Marist, junior, outside hitter: Had 287 kills, 182 digs, 54 blocks and 53 aces for state champions. All-state. Named state tournament MVP by Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association. Took visits to MIT and Princeton.

Jozef Walus, Reavis, junior, outside hitter: Racked up 252 kills, 241 digs and 26 aces. South Suburban Red’s player of the year.

Lockport’s Evan Dziadkowiec (15) blocks a shot by Lincoln-Way West’s Connor Jaral (17) during the Southwest Suburban Conference match on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Lockport. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

Second Team

Luke Brannigan, Marist, senior, outside hitter: Paced RedHawks to state championship with 213 kills, 217 digs, 35 blocks and 33 aces. All-state, all-conference.

Marco Budzak, Oak Lawn, sophomore, setter/right-side hitter: Had 370 assists, 157 digs, 160 kills and 31 blocks. All-conference.

Mitchell Carrera, Oak Forest, senior, setter/right-side hitter: Totaled 606 assists, 37 blocks, 103 kills and 60 aces. All-conference. Committed to Cornerstone.

Sebastian Corral, St. Laurence, senior, middle hitter: Had program-record 58 blocks to go along with a .680 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Ian Faber, Chicago Christian, senior, middle hitter: Finished with 99 blocks and .533 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Kaden Kaczmarek, Providence, senior, middle hitter: Had 197 kills and .380 hitting percentage with 51 blocks, 36 digs and 24 aces. Catholic League White’s player of the year.

Ethan Kuziela, Marist, senior, setter/right-side hitter: Had 172 kills, 451 assists, 91 digs, 35 blocks and 26 aces. Committed to Illinois Wesleyan.

Phoenix McGruder, Marian Catholic, senior, outside hitter: Totaled 316 kills, 139 digs, 52 blocks and 44 assists. Had .287 hitting percentage. All-state, all-conference.

Matthew Muehlnickel, Lincon-Way East, junior, outside hitter: Had 259 kills while passing at a 2.40 clip. All-state, all-conference. Committed to Lindenwood.

Sebastion Pardol, Argo, sophomore, outside hitter: Tallied 334 kills, 173 digs and 52 aces for Argonauts. All-state, all-conference.

Ahmad Powell, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, outside hitter: Totaled 226 kills, 132 digs, 32 aces and 28 blocks. Had 2.31 passing efficiency. All-state, all-conference.

Kevin Rodriguez, Lockport, senior, libero: Chalked up 272 digs, 70 assists and 20 aces. Had 2.23 rating in serve receive. All-state, all-conference.

Marist’s Luke Brannigan (11) hits through the block against Glenbard West during the first game of the boys volleyball state semifinals at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Brian O’Mahoney / Daily Southtown)

Honorable Mention

  • Colin Alvers, Lincoln-Way Central, junior, libero.
  • Myles Aquino, Sandburg, senior, libero.
  • Paul Baker, Brother Rice, junior, outside hitter.
  • Anthony Barbato, Oak Forest, senior, opposite hitter.
  • James Bullock Jr., Marian Catholic, senior, middle hitter.
  • Gabriel Chapman, Crete-Monee, senior, outside hitter.
  • Nate Epley, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, outside hitter.
  • Andrew Flores, Lincoln-Way West, junior, libero
  • Sam Jager, Chicago Christian, sophomore, libero.
  • Drew Kregul, Lincoln-Way West, junior, middle hitter.
  • Jeremy Lin, De La Salle, junior, outside hitter.
  • Jack Meador, Marist, senior, middle hitter.
  • Michael Miller, Tinley Park, senior, outside hitter.
  • Krystian Paulich, Reavis, junior, libero.
  • Matthew Phelan, Brother Rice, junior, setter.
  • Aydin Provost, Mount Carmel, junior, right-side hitter.
  • Tyler Sempek, Andrew, senior, libero.
  • Matthew Suchecki, St. Laurence, junior, setter.
  • Kyle Swarens, Lincoln-Way East, senior, setter.
  • Juvontae Thompson, Bremen, senior, outside hitter.
  • Hunter Vedder, Lincoln-Way West, junior, outside hitter.
  • Wade Welke, Lockport, senior, outside hitter.
  • Cael Whitchurch, Lemont, senior, setter.
  • Charlie Zeiler, Stagg, sophomore, libero.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.



Jeff Vorva , 2024-06-12 15:47:37

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